robertson



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model) f J. RGBBRTSON. I SHAPING METAL TUBES. No. 481,060. Patented Aug.`16, 1892.

f G A? a I F17 ,ff

5 Sheets- Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

J. ROBERTSGN. SHAPING METAL TUBES.

Patented Aug. 16, 1892 y y A7 A, Flwf.

Fllll. FISE (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. ROBERTSON. SHAPING METAL TUBES. No. 481,060. Patented Aug. 1'6, 1892.

I wd I Aff lNvENTuR'.

5 Sheets-Sheet 41.

(No Mode1.) J. ROBERTSON.

y SHAPING METAL TUBES. No. 481,060. A5 Patented Aug. 16, 1892.

. k c l=|l3 Z5 c Aa III/ll f WITN 55555; @l/47M (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. ROBERTSON. SHAPING METAL TUBES.

110.481,060. Patented Aug. 16,1892.

fTE 4m A` A E 20 J A Aal pending such billets or masses, by the vapplimetal rendered soft by heat the desired form in a hollow die by pressure suitably applied i preparing it' for a subsequent operation.

l formed article and -the ,mandrel or pressure I' die in formingitfrom the die.'

'ture of tubes or tubular and hollow articles,

device movable lengthwise in the die. and

of metal heated to softness in a die by thc NITED STATES JAMES ROBERTSON, Oi 1nn.\uNouA.-u, ENGLAND.

srl/WING.A METAL-rusas.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,060, dated August 1-V6, l1892. Application filed March 18,1892. Serial No. 425,429. tNo model.) Patent-ed in England July 6. 18.91.No.11,436:

To all ,whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES RoBER'rsON, of Birmingham, England, have invented au lmprovement in the Compressing, Shaping, and Drawing of Metal Tubes, tbe., of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates, mainly, to compressing and shaping metals-such as iron, steel, and coppermade soft by heat and to shapingor forming billets or masses of metal in this soft state into tubes or tubular, hollow, aud solid articles by pressing, piercing,o r.ex

cation of great force, into or through' shapingdies, by piercing-mandrels for the manufacandby rams or shaping-heads for solid articles and bars.

The invention consists, first, in certain improvements in the art of making metal articles, which consists in giving a blank of aud'then introducing a fluid-such asw'ater, preferably -in a cold state, under high pressure into the interior ol'I the die, thereby ejecting the formed article from the die, the fluid when cold acti-ng, also, to contract the formed article and thus release the hold of the die upon it', so .asto facilitate the ejection of the formed article, as well as cooling the die and The invention valso consists in the combination ol a. hollow-die, a mandrel or pressure adapted to cti-operate with the die in forming a mass or billet of metal healed to sel'tness and placed within the. dimand means for in! trodncing water under pressure into the iuterior of the die to eject from the-,latter the device and incidentally to cool the die and tli'e formed article. v A A The invention also consists in certain other improvements in apparatus for forming masses or billets of metal softened by heat the pressure device that co-operates with the 'lhe invention also consists in auim'p'rovef4 ment in the art of forming masses or billets eonjointaetion of a piercingmandrel and the die,'whcreby the piercng-pressure of t-he mandrel in penetrating a billet is prevented from breaking the billet crosswise before the greater part of its mass has beenformed. into a tube, said improvement consisting in placing a blank or billet softened'by heat in a die,

forcing the piercing-mandrel lengthwise into and through the billet., thereby causing the metal of the billet to cxude in tube form be tweenthc dic and mandrel in the direction opposite the movement ol the mandrel and supporting the rear end ol the billet against the piercing-pressure ol the 'mandrel by .a rigid abutment adapted lo stand the pressure of themandrel when said pressure is relieved by the exudation of the metal' froml between the support and mandrel, whereby the mandrel is prevented fromlnreaking the billet during the piercing operation, said support being further adapted to give" way to the direct or unrelieved pressure of the mandrel when the latter has passed through thc lnctal of the billet or a greater part thcrco'f,so that when the Amandrel emerges from the metal of the billet it will not be injured by contact withf'a rigid Or unyiclding surface, t he said abutmentyield-v ing and permitting the unopposed movement of the imtmlrelontof therearend of thetnbc.

'lhe' invention also' consists in the combi nation ol a die.,a piercing-mandrel movable lengthwise in the die, and an abutment for -I the rear end Ol the billet engaged' with a sup/S5 port at the rear end of the die and adapted -to sustain the'billet rigidly against the prese.. nre of the mandrel while the same is relieved.

by the emulation of the metal andV to give way to thev direct of nnrelieved pressure ol' ythe maud rel.

'lhe invention also consists in certain addit'ional improvements involving the cmployment l'an abutment for the rear end et vthe lullet,'adapted to sustain the billet 'against lthe relieved pressure and `to give way to the direct pressure of thc-mandrel.

. In the acct'impanying drawings, forming partof this specifiez'uion, Figure l represents au enl elevation of a die and its containing .and supporting devices and certain parts,

hereinafter described, co-opcrating with the die. Fig. 2 represents alongtudiual section of thedevlces shown inv Fig. l,thc parts being and 37 represent, respectively,

shown in the position occupied near the close of the oporationof forming a tube. Fig. 3 represents a section similar-to Fig. 2,showing the position of the parts after the close of the tube-forming operation. Fig. 4 represents an endelevation, and Fig. 5 a longitudinal section, the latter showing certain modifications in the construction and arrangement of the abutment supporting the rear end of the billet. Figs. 6 and 7 represent, respectively,an end elevation and a longitudinal Section involving another modification. Figs. 8 and 9 represent, respectively, an end elevation and a longitudinal section showing another modification of the abutment- Figs. 1.0 and 11 represent, respectively, an end elevation and a longitudinal section showing still another modification of the abutment. Fig. 12 represents an endelevatioinand Fig. 13 a sectional view, showingr a modification of the ilcans for admitting fluid under pressure to the die. Fig. 14 represents an end elevation, and Figs. l5 and 1G sectional views, showing another modification of the means for admittiugfiuid under pressure to the interior of a die. Fig. 17 represents an end elevation, and Figs. 1S and 19 sectional views, showinga-nother modification of the means for admit-ting fluid uudcr pressure to the interior of a die. Figs. 20 and 2l represent sectional views of a die having means for admitting fluid under pressure, a piercing-mandrel, an abutment for the bi1let,and certain means hereinafter referred to for guiding and supporting the mandrel during its piercing-stroke. Fig. 22 represents a partial sectional view and partial elevation of portions shown inFigs. 2O and 21. 'Fig-:23 represents an end elevation and partial transverse section of the construction shown in Fig. 22. Fig. 24 represents an end elevation, and Figs. 25 and 26 sectional views, showing modifications of the construction of a die having means for introducing fiuid under pressure intoits interior. l`ig. 27 representsan end elevation, and Fig. 2S a sectional view, showing other modifications relating to a die provided with means for introducing 'fluid under pressure into its interior. Figs. 29 and 30 represent an end elevation and a sectional View similar to Figsp27 and 2S, with' slight additional modifications. Fig. 3l represents an end elevation,aud Figs. and 33 sectional views, showing other modifications relating to the form and arrangement of the parts and to the means forintroducing fluid under pressure into the die. Figs, 34 and 35 ,represent an end elevation and a-sectional view, the latter showinga shaping head or ram adapted to exert compressing pressure upon a billet of metal i-n the die, instead of aV piercing-inandrel, as shown in the preceding figures, thc die being duction'of a fluid under pressure. Figs.

tion and a sectional view, thewlatter being similar to Fig. 35, but showing instead of the solid billet a series of billets or blanks and provided with means for the introan end 'eleva- 4ing Figs.

' by means of an after holding-up shaping devices between which the billets or blanks are interposed,the die being provided with means for the introduction of a fluid under pressure. Fig. 38 represents a sectional view similar to Fig. 37, showing a different 'stage of the operation. Fig. 3f) represents a transverse section, and Fig. 40 a partial longitudinal section and partial side elevation, showing a die for forming gears by the compression of metal, the die having means for the introduction of fluid under pressure. Fig. 4l represents a view similar to Fig. 40, showing a different stage of the operation. Fig. 42 represents an end elevation, and Fig 43 and 44 sectional views, showing another modi-n fication of a die and eri-operating devices, the die having means for fluid under pressure.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, A A represent the-two halves of a long die, which is formed internally to impart the desired form to a billetor blank of metal placed in said die and subjected therein to compressing pressure, the blank or billet heilig rendered soft and viscid by heat.

In all the figures of the drawings, except- 13 to 1f), inclusive, and Figs. 20, 21, 22, 23, 39, 40, and 4l, I have shown the die as adapted to slide lengthwise in a fixed guide or holder A3, substantially as l British Letters Patent No. 1,627 rof 1890, granted to me, the die being adapted to slide freely in either direction in the said holder, which is aixed in any suitable way toa svpporting-bed. This freedom of the die to move endwise enables it to be moved by the movement of the metai," such movement being caused by 'the shaping device co-operating with the die in giving the desired form to the blank or billet of metal softened by'heat placed in the die.`

In the production of tubes the device for applying pressure to the b"ct or blank is a piercing-mandrel I), formed on a stem-rod D', and said rod is caused to act usually by being forced into the die against the billet, thereby causing the metal of the billet to exude through the annular space between the mandrel and the die inthe forni of a tube, the exuding metal moving at aslower rate than the mandrel and in the opposite direction and causing the die to move with it, as fully described in'my above-mentioned British patent. The rear end of the billet is supported Y stem-rod C, entering the rear end of the die. In most cases this stem-rod is rigidly supported and the mandrel is movable, although the conditions may be reversed and the mandrel held stationary and the stem-rod moved ito cause the shaping :1t-tkm. lVhen the billet or blank is acted upon uy acomprcssing ram or head, as shown particularly in Figs. 35, 3i', and 38,. the metal does not exude from the die, butis Simply the introduction ot a set forth iu IOO IIC

compressed therein', and inthis case which relates'to the introduction of a .fluid under pressure 'into the die for the purpose of ejecting the formed article 'and the many drel or other pressure device fromthe die vstem-rod head C, excepting and of cooling the die and the formed article Iprovide a .water inlet er1-channel, communieating with a source of fluid-supply, such as a water-forcing pump, water-accumulator, or any other means for supplying water at a high pressure, the pressure being preferably about one ton to the square inch.

In all the igures showing the .holding-up ,Figs 28, 30,'43, andftl, I show a watei'channel or conduit C, extending longitudinally throughthe stemrod and adapted to introduce water/into the interior of the die.

In Figs. 2, 25, 26, and 35 I show a branch pipe C* connected to the stem-rod C at a point l outside of the die, said pipe conducting water to the passage C3 in the stem-rod from a suitable wvat'ersforcing apparatus.

It will be seen that the introduction of 4water in a cold state into the die containing a formed article of hot metal exerts a quick cooling` action, slightly contractingA the article,and releasing the hold of the die upon it,

.also aording a very steady force for the removal -of the article, with the mandrel or pressure device, from the die.

'The stem-rod C is preferably provided within the die with a packing-ring C5 to makea o vwater-tight joint and prevent the water from escaping from the rear end of the die. l'Vhen water under pressure, as described, is introduced into a die containing a tube and a piercing-mandrel, as shown, for example, in Figs. 2 and 3, the pressure forces back the mandrel-head l.) into the hottube B just formed (the connection between the mandrel and the internal surface of the tube being substantially water-tight) and Aat the same time generates steam larg`ely and at a high pressure and cools the tube B', thus contracting it and releasing it from the die. 'lhe cou- ,traction of the tube makes for the instant a water-tight connection between the tube and mandrel, so that the water and steam pressure quickly forces out both the tube and mandrel,l leaving no time for the hot metal. to injure the die, mandrel, or auy'of thc working parts,.the die being thus` prepared fora fresh operation..y

I n Figs. 2 to 1l, inclusive, arid in several succeeding-figures the form'ot' the water-conduit inthe stem-rod is such that Athe water admitted bears directlyupon-an abutment .hereinafter referred to, which abutment is rigidly-supported within the die during the tube-forming operation and is released and allowed to slide within the die at the c,lose ol' the tube-forming operation, as hereinafter described, the pressure of the water being dii1. ,'ures,l particularly Figs.e14, 15and 16, as

rected against the said abutment. In other` lwell asin Figs. 3i and 35, the said abutment 7o is not employed and a loose water-distributing piece or tube E is placed in the die, said piece being of such form as to extend across the dieand till the cross-section thereof' and provided withnumerous perforations e, which are arranged to receive water from the supplying-conduit, which in Figs. 15 and 16 is indicated by c" c, the said orifices being com' nected by annular grooves in the rear side of v the plate E, so that water can pass freely into all theoriiccs 'e from the conduit, the water being distributed by the plate so as to act on this waterdistributing plate 11- being adapted particularly for articles of large diameter, such as th hollow shells or casings left closed at one end, as shown in Fig. 16, such shells being suitable for the manufacture ofy containers for gaseous fluids lander pressure.

In Figs: v12 and 13 I show a conduit orpassage A7 extending laterally through the-wall of the die in a direction at right angles to the length of the die and another conduit c3 communicating with the conduit'A7, said conduit c3 receiving water-under pressure and being closed or obstructed by a plug A, which is formed to ill the conduitA7 and has a screvthreaded portion working in a screw-threaded nut A5, ali'xcd to thc wall ofv th die. A handle A on the outer end of the plug A4 permits said plug to be turned so as to withdraw it enough to uncover the conduit c3 and permit the water to pass from the conduit c3 through A7 into the die. In Figs. 28, 43, and 44, a simi'- lar arrangement of the water-supplying com. dutis shown-namely, a conduit e2 formedn the wall of the die and communicating wit-h the interior thereof, the conduit being connected by a pipe c* with the source of watersupply.

In Figs. '17, 1S, and 19 I show a fixed die, aud-as a water-conduit I show a pipe e", connected by a pipe c with a source of watersupply and provided with afilling of parallel lengths of 4wire 17, closely packed and iilling the pipe, excepting the necessarylongitudinal interstiecs between. the wires, each wire being preferably round and about one-eighth ol' an inchiu diameter. compressed or crowded into the tube as to resist endwise movement, and therefore the loo I-IO

The wires are so closely' pressure of thc'compressed hot metal. The

end ofthe mass of wires maybe shaped to conform to the shape of the'inside of the die or matrix, the shape of the die and ofthe end of the mass of wires (shown iu. vFigs. 18-and 19) being suited i'or the forplation of military' shells.

'lhe method of and means'for introducing fluid under pressure into the interior ol.' the die, for the purposes abovedcscribed,'are not limited to use in connection with apparatus for formingtulmlar or hollow articles, nor to apparatus iu which tubular orhollowart'iclcs are Iormcd by theexudation of the metal bef tween the wall of the die and the periphery of a mandrel co-operating with the die.

In Figs. 15 and 16 I show a fixed die anda mandrel or plunger adapted to co-opcrate therewith in forming a hollow aticle or tube closed at one en d.

In Fig. 35 I show a longitudinally-movable die and a ram or compressing-head J closely fitting the interior of the die and adapted to co-operate with the die and with the stem-rod C in imparting equal pressure toboth ends or both sides of the article being compressed and shaped, the main difference between the construction shown in Fig. 35 and that shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, dsc., heilig the substitution of a rain J', closely fitting the interior of the die, forthe inandrel D, made smaller than the die, the billet being compressed and given externally the exact shape of the die instead of being pierced. In this case the die may be round, square, or of any other shapein crosssection. soft metal may be. compressed or shaped in the manner shown in Fig. The slidingr motion of the die eqsalizes the pressure throughout the die, which thus, by diminishing the loss of pressure at the rear end of the die by the friction of the billet of metal on its walls, allows a long die to bc used for the purpose described. l

In Figs. 37 and 3S I showthe Sallie apparatus as in Fig. 35; but instead 4ol one billet in the die there are a series of' billets ll, which'are to becompressed into a web or disk pulley. In the die are placed a series of formers or shaping devices I. L/L I., between which the billets are interposed, said formers being inerted in a cold state and provided on their sides adjacent to the sides of the billet with suitable recesses and projections adapted to act upon the soft hot-metal billets when the ram J is forced inwardly, as shown in Fig. 3S, to convert the billets ll into pulleys B', as shown in the last-mentioned figure. Metals-such as iron, steel, and copper and its .alloys-can be forged quickly in this way into a great variety of shapes, as theV dies and shaping devices may be of square, oblong, or any other shape in cross-section I do not claim herein the apparatus nor the method immediately above described and illustrated in Figs. 35, 37, and 3S, as thc same forms the subject-matter of another application filed by me July l5, 1812:?, and having Serial No. 440,149.

In Figs. 39 and 10 I show a die and a rant eo-operating therewith, adapted to compress and shape heated metals into short articlessuch as gear-wheels--where there is. no large diminution ot pressure by friction, owing to great length of surface of the walls of the die and pressure device. In this case the die A is fixed, the stem-rod being omitted. The interior of the die maybe provided with a series of recesses adapted to form teeth on the periphery of a gearl, Fig. 39, the rain J being provided with a follower J2", having 1 Two or more pieces or blanksof hot teeth adapted to closely fit the tooth-forming recesses of the die, said teeth being longer than the depth ol the'die.

Fig. 41 shows the position ofthe ram at the close of the forniingoperation,the billet having been compressed within the die by the vertical movement ot the ram, so that a portion of its metal has been forced outwardly into the tooth-forming recesses of the die. The expelling fluid is admitted into the die through conduit e3 c* and a distributing-tube E. It will beseen that by apparatus similar to that shown in Figs. 30 and 40 articles of various shapes can be formed very solidly and quickly, the water-expelling process beingwell suited for this apparatus, as well as for all the previously-described forms.

In Figs. l2, 43, and il I show apparatus for eompressingand shaping or drawing down masses, billets, or bars of hot metal which have round or other cross-section from a larger to a smallercross-section, the die A A', of the general forni hereinbefore described, having a` reducing-die Ai, which is supported by the stem-rod C and supports the rear end of the billet. The stein-rod in this case has its central longitudinal aperture made somewhat larger than the diameter of the interior ot the die A. The billet or bar is placed in the die A A' as before, and a ram J, closely litting the interior of the die, is introduced into the latter, the pressure of the ram forcing the billet through the die A5, thus converting the billet into a rod of smaller diame-4 ter, which rod passes out into the orifice in the stem-rod U. 'lhe ram J in this case is provided with a longitudinal hole slightly cularged at its inner end, in which is placed a secondary ram M, adapted to slide longitudinally, and having a head lll fitting theA enlargement in 'the hole in the ram, said head and enlargement preventing the metal under pressure from pressing the secondary ram M backward. 'lhe object ofthe ram M is to push the metal out of the `die A8 after the completion of the stroke ofl the ram J. '.l`hc

IOC

IIO

cooling and expelling water is then admitted to the die through the conduit c, expelling the bar l1', but in this case in the saine direction as that in which the bar moved while it was being formed, asindicated by the arrow marked thereon in Fig. 44. Y

In Figs. O, :31, 2:2, and 93 l showmeans foi supporting and imparting rigidi-ty to the 4elongated stem-rod 1) of a piercing-mandrel for forming tubes and tubular and hollow articles of small diameters. 'lhe mandrel stemrod 1) is placed in a tubular guide-piece ll and adapted'to Islide freely therein. One end of the guide-piece Il is inserted in a bushing I,vai`iixed to a driving-head I, which may be impelled, toward the die A A by meansot a. hydraulic ram or otherwise. I'-' represents a transverse'arm or eotter affixed to the bushpiece Iand passing through a slot ll in the guide-piece 1l into the interior ot' the ram, said cette: bearing against the rear end of :z 5 this case the fixed vo rod thelatterbcing removed.

vfiancee after-holding-up stem-rod C being employed' to support the rear end of the billet, and the 5` mandrel is moved. forward, as indicated by the arrows marked thereon. 'lhe guide-piece lI supports the mandi-ct ,stem-rod andprevents its from buckling or bcnling under the strain imposed upon it.

I do not claim in this applicatiouthc means above described and illustrated in Figs. .O to

23, inclusive, the same forming the subjectmatter of another application filed byv me July 15, 1892, and having Serial No. Model). vIn Figs. 24, 25, and 261 show means of shap ing and drawing seamless tubes of considerable length from billets of metal-such as steel and copperand ot diminishing the external diameter of the formedtube below that zo of the blank or billet by pushing the metal out of a long tube-forming die A by means of a ram J, closely fitting the interior of the die and between a mandrel D and a short die A8 of smaller diameter placed in the ydie A. In after-holding-up stem-rod C supports the reducing-die A, and the mandrel D projects through au orifice previously formed in the center of4 the billet and through the die A8. 'In this case the ram J 3o and mandrel I) inove together, the ram compressing the billet and causing it toexude in tube form between the reducing-die AB and the mandrel, the ram moving with the formed tube into the stem-rod C, which is made of g5 sufficient length to receive the entire length of the formed tube. At the completion of the operation the tube is ejected by fiuid under pressure introduced linto the stem-rod C -through pipe ci. i

Figs. 27 and 28 show apparatus in whichv the mandrel is inserted through'a hollow billet-forcing ram and through a hollow metal billet, held ,in a die A between the' ram J and fixed stem-rod C, the mandrel being held sta .5 tionaryinsteadofmovingalongwiththe metal billet, as in Figs. A is employed in this modification, as in one last described. In this case thel eject.-l \ing fluid enters through the conduit c3 c, o passing through one of the walls of the dieA into an annular cavity formed Aby-reducing the end ofjthe stem-rod C. The fluid thus admitted forces the die A8 and ram J out of lthe die A.

In the apparatus shown intlfigs. 29 and 3.0 the action is the same as in Fig. 28; but in this modification the die A" is secured'to the die A bymeans of a holder or plate A, which takes the place of thc after-holding-up stem- The mandrel D and its rod D are fixed in a stationary mandrel holder K. lhc mandrel is arranged within a die -A"s and serves the purpose ot the stem-'rod C in conipacting the metal of 5 the billet when the said metal 'is being squirted outiu the tube l5.

Figs. 31 and 32 show dies -A Ag of different 25 and 26. A reducinghdie/A diameters, adapted to expand a` solid billet B of. hot metal outwardly i'ntova tube' B' of larger external diameter than the billet from which it was made.' ln v thisl case a ram J is employed closely fitting the interior of the .a stem-rod D', is held stationary within the die A3, the mandrel l) being an equivalent of the lixed stem-rod Cf ln thiscase the expelling tluid ent-ers the ram through a iiexible tube c4 and passes intot-he die through a conduit c" in the ram. At the beginning-0E the operation a short piece of inetalgli, of the same kind as the billetand' in a state, is interposed between thc billet and the ram,as' shown in Fight?, said piece being converted by the action of tho rain and maudrel into a cap li", as shown in Fig. 33,cnvel oping the mandrel at the close of the Itub@- vforming.; operation. llhe fluid introduced through the ram ejects the said cap,

for l resh operation. Ido not claim herein apparatus for'formingfelongatcd articles from illets of heated iu Figs. 43, 4i,- 25, 26, 28,32, and 33 ,fas the same forms the subject-matter of another application filed by me' July l5, ing Serial No. 440,151.

1 have shown above described to of my inethodof expelling formed articles'of. hot metal from shaping-dies and of preparing the dies. and theco-operatin g devices for fresh operations'to variously-organized apparatuses, my invention not being limited in this respect. to any particular form of apparatus, as the fiuid under pressure may be introduced into adie which is either fixed wise, and through a fixed stem-rod'or through the side or end Wall oi the a flexible connection through a movable raml or presser. A

Various other modifications of means for for forming hot-metal blanks may be adopted without departing from the spirit of my invention. 4 Another i'eatu L have used with very satisfactory results iu' Vconne'ctionwith the mode of and means for ejecting the formed articles from the die andfor cooling thedieand mandrel or pressure devi'ce,'consists in theprovision of an abut- -ment for the rear end of the billet, said abutment being used in connection with apparatus .for piercing'the billet and converting the same into a tube, the piercing-mandrel passing entirely through the billet and forming a tube,

which is open `at both ends.

In converting a billet into'a conjointfuse of a longitudinally-sliding die and a piercing-mandrel movable in the die it 'is necessary to support the rear en d of the billet against the' pressure of the die, in order that the said pressureA may be prevented from,

die,while a piercing-mandrel l),snpported by hot with the y mand rel and tube, leaving the dies A A ready metaLsuchasdescribed'ab vcand illustrated 1S92, and havthe various modifications i illustrate theapplieability IOO or movable lengthdie or by means of.

introducing water under pressure into-diesv re of -my invention,'which-"Ll tube by the breaking rnc bittet creanme' beton the. me-4 terial thereof has been fully utilized in the manufacture of the tube. Itis desirable that the mandrel pass through substantially all of the metal of the billet, in order that the material may be worked up into tube fornrwith- -out any'considerable waste, such as would be caused by4 failure of the mandrel to pass eutirely through the' billet, or by thecrosswise breaking ofi' the billet before .the mandrel has reached therearend ofthe same. l find thatit is necessary, in ordertopreven tsuch crosswise brakingf'of the billet, to provide a support which w' l ext'eud across the inner end of the billet, nd thus support substantially all of the surface of the end of the billet. It is obvious, however, that if srl support be fixed and immovable the mandrel will not only be `prevented by it from emerging through the end, of the billet, andthus completing the tube, but will also be liable to be injured by I cont-act with the support on approaching the end of its inward stroke, the mandrel being then in a heated condition and easily battered and indented. To afford a sufficient support for the billet during the piercing ac tion ofthe mandrel and to allow the mandrel tov emerge practically unopposed from the end of the billet when the. material of the lat4 ter has been practicallyall converted into a tube, I proyide an abutment or support within the die, which abutment is adapted to withstand the pressure of the -man-drel when said pressure is relieved by the exudation of the metal from between the die and mandrel, and therefore constitutes a practically-rigid snpport, preventing the breaking away of the rear end of the billet during the tube-forming operation, said support being adapted to yield or give way to the direct o'r unrelieved pressure of the mandrel after the metal has ceased to exude from between the mandrel land die, so that the abutment is displaced and permits the unobstructed exit ofthe mandrel from the rear end of the completed tube without injury to the man drel. The abutment, thus released and permitted to move endwise in the die, permits the described expelling action of the fluid und@ pressure introduced into the die.

This part of my invention may be carried out in various ways.

'In Fig.2 I show as the abutment'a serviceplate E, which may be of copper, iron, steel, or other suitable material, and is so proportioned that it will resist the relieved pressure of the billet against it, while the mandrel is piercing the billet, and will be ruptured or shorn b v the direct or u nrelieved pressure ol the mandrel, so that its central portion will be converted into a loose disk E', which retreats before the mandrel and the remnant Ba of the metal billet, which remnant is also shown in Fig. 3 in the form of a barb, re-.

treating v. i'th the disk'E' before the mandrel. In this instance the margin of the serviceplate E is supported by a tube or ferrule piece C, placed in the die and supported by' the stem-rod C, the said l ferrule-p ece C constituting anyextension ot' the stem-rod and havingran internal cavity large enough 'to receive the mandrel, as shown in Fig. 3, said fen-ulepiece also permitting the passage of water under pressure from the stem-rod into the die.

In Fig. 5 I show a service-plate E of the same form as in Fig. 2, said plate being, however, clamped between the forward end of the stem-rod C and the rear end of the ferrulc-piece C2, a' cylindrical filling-piece Es of suitable metal being interposed between the service-plate and the billet; said piece being inclosed in the ferrule-pice C2., In this case, the pressure of the billet is communicated to theservice-plate through the filling-piece E3, and when the pressure of the mandrel becomes positive er unrclieved the filling-piece E3 and the service-plate yield, the service-- as above described.

In Fig. 7 I show as the abutment the filling-piece E3, the stem being placed in the ferrule-piece (J2 and engaged with the latter by means of a key or locking device consisting of a'sleeve EU of soft metal-such as lead-filling an annular space-between the plat-e being shorn away at its central portion,

ferrule-piece and the filling-piece, and also I filling grooves C'gformed in the inner surface of the ferrule-piece andthe outer surface of the flling-piece. The sleeve E has su cl'cnt strengthto resist the relieved pressure of the billet against the fillingfpiece E", but is ruptured or shorn away by the positive or unrelieved pressure of the mandrel. .In this case the ferrule-piece C2 is directly supported by the forward end of the stem-rod C.

IOO

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show the filling-piece E? secured in place by a transverse key or lock-4 ingr device E12, which may be of any suitable metal, and is inserted at its endsin orifices in the filling-piece E, the said key being proportioned to resist the relieved pressure and to be ruptured by the direct pressure of the mandrel. l Y 1 V In Fig. 11 I show the filling-piece E3 arranged as the abutment, the key or locking device being'a blank EP3 of soft metal, closing the outlet of a chamber E, formed in the ferrulepiece C2, the latter having one end closed and provided with an orifice, which is filled or closed by the plug E. t The fillingpi'eceLE-3 is adapted to slide in the chamber E14 and has a packed piston E allixed to -its rear end, which fits closely in the chamber El?. j 'lhe space between the pisto'n'E6 and the head or closed end of the ferrule-piece is filled `with water or other suitable liquid. So

-long as the pressure of the billet against the filling-piece E is relieve-'d by the exudation of themetal, the plug E holds the liquid inl place and prevents endwise movementof the' filling-piece; but when the filling-piece is subjected to the direct pressure of the'mandrel the plug E13 is ruptured and ejected, thus permitting the fluid to escape and the padprovided, which is held 1n place by a locking device or key which secures the abutment to a fixed support' and is adapted to resist the relieved pressure of the mandrel through the i billet against the butment and to be ruptf ured or shorn by the direct or unrelieved pressure of themandrel. In the construction shown in Figs'. 2, 3and 5 the key or locking device is the marginal portion of the serviceplate, the same being ruptured or shorn at a line coinciding with the inner surface of the ferrule-piece C2. In Figs. 5, 7, 9, and 11 the key or locking device is made independent of the part which directly supports the rear end of the billet, while in Figs. 2 and 3 the key or locking device is a part of the device whichv directly supports the billet. v

Various other modifications may be made in the construction of this portion of my invention without departing from'the spirit or nature thereof.

In several figures of lthe drawings I show a tubular mandrel-guide G loosely inserted in one end of the .die as a means for keeping the mandrel at the center of the die.

I do not claim herein the method of protecting a tube-forming mandrel from injury and of separating it from the formed tube, the same consisting in interposing a landingpiece of hot soft metal between the billet and the head or support which co-operates with the mandrel in compressing the billet, said piece receiving the mandrel at the close of the tube-forming operation.. Nor do I claim the means for carrying out this method, as the said method and means form the subjectmatter of another application filed by me July l5, 1892, and having Serial No. 440,152.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and explained a way of constructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forth allof the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its employment, I declare that what I claim isl. That improvement in the art of making metal articles which consists in givingablank piece of metal softened by heat the desired form in a die by pressure and then introducing a relatively-cold fiuid, such .as water, under pressure into the die, said iiuid operating to cool and contract the formed article as well as to eject it from the die, as set forth.

2. That improvement in the art of making seamless metal tubes and tubular articles which consists in placing a blank or billet softened by heat in a die, forcing a piercingmandrel lengthwise into and through the billet, thus converting it into a tube, and then introducing a Huid, such as water, under pressnre into the die, and thereby ejecting both the tube and mandrel from the die, as set forth.

3. The combination of a hollow die, a mandrel or pressure device movable lengthwise within the die, and means for introducing water under pressure into the interior of the die, whereby' the formed article and the mandrel or pressure device may be ejected from the die, as sct forth.

4. The combination of a fixed guide, a die adapted to slide lengthwise therein, a pressure device movable lengthwise within the die, and a fixed stem-rod entering the rear end of the die and provided with a conduit adapted to deliver a fluid,such as water,under pressure to the interior of the die, as set forth.

5. The combination of a fixed guide, a die adapted to slide lengthwise therein, a mandrel adapted to move lengthwise into the die, and a fixed stem-rod entering the rear end of the die as a means for supporting a billet or blank of metal therein against the piercing pressure of the mandrel, said stem-rod having a water channel or conduit adapted to introduce a fluid, such as water, under pressure into the rear portion of the die, as set forth'. G. That improvement in the art of making seamless metal tubes and hollow articles which consists in placing a blank or billet softened by heat in a die, forcing a piercingmandrel lengthwise into and through the billet, and thereby causing the metal of the billet to exude in tube form between the die and mandreln a direction opposite the movement of the mandrel, rigidly holding the rear end of the billet against the piercing pressure of the mandrel by a rigid support while the mandrel is piercing the billet, and thereby preventing the mandrel from breaking the billet during the piercing operation, and displacing or removing the rigid support by the direct or unrelieved pressure of the mandrel at the end of the piercing operation, whereby injury to the mandrel is prevented, as set forth.

7. That improvement in the art of making seamless metal tubes and hollow articles which consists in placing a blank or billet softened by heat in a die, rigidly supporting the rear end of the billet, forcing a piercingmandrel lengthwise into and through the rigidly-supported billet, and thereby causing the metal of the billet to exude in tube form between the die and mandrel in a direction opposite the movement of the mandrel, and displacing the support at the rear end of the billet after the mandrel has passed substantially through the billet, whereby the mandrel is permitted to emerge unobstructed from the rear end of the tube without injury.

8. That improvement in the art of making seamless metal tubes and hollow articles which consists in placing a blank o'r billet softened by heat in a die, rigidly supporting the rear und of the billet, forcing a piercingmandrel lengthwise into and through the rigidly-supported billet, displacing the support from its operative position at the rear end of the billet after the mandrel has passed substantially through the billet, and thereby permitting said support to slide in the die, and

finally introducing a uid, such as water,- un- IOO der pressure into the rear end of the die, and thereby ejecting the mandrel, the billet, and the displacing billet-support, as set forth.

9. r Asafixed improvement in apparatus for making seamless metal tubes and hollow artlcles, the combination of a die,a piercingmandrel movable lengthwise in the die, and an abutment for the rear end of the billet, adapted to sustain the billet rigidly against the relieved pressure of the mandrel and to give way to the direct or unrelieved pressure of the mandrel, whereby the mandrel is permitted to emerge from the rear end of the tube without injury, as set forth.

1U. As an improvement in apparatus for making seamless metal tubes and hollow artlcles, the combination of a die, a piercingmandrel movable lengthwise in the die, a re-` c essed support at the rear portion of the die, adapted to resist the pressure of the mandrel against the billet, and a fixed abutment for` the rear end of the billet, adapted to sustain the billet rigidly against the relieved pressure of the mandrel and to give way to the direct or unrelieved pressure of the mandrel and retreat before the mandrel into the recessed support, as set forth.

11. As an improvement in'apparatus for making seamless metal tubes and hollow artleles, the combination of a die, a piercingmandrel movable lengthwise in the die, a recessed support at the rear portion of the die, adapted to resist the pressure of the mandrel against the billet, an abutment for the rear end of the billet, and a locking device or key securing the abutment to the support and adapted to resist the relieved pressure of the mandrel through the billet against the abutment and to be ruptured or shorn by the direct or nnrelieved pressure of the mandrel, as set forth.

12. As an improvement in apparatus for making seamless metal tubes and hollow articles, the combination of a die, a piercingmandrel movable lengthwise in the die,a recessed support at the rear portion of the die, adapted to resist the pressure of the' mandrel against the billet, anda service-plate of rupturable metal covering` the forward end of the recessed support, said plate serving as an abutment for the rear end of the billet, while its margin constitutes a locking device or key engaging the abutment with the recessed support and adapted to be ruptured or shorn by the direct pressure ofthe mandrel, as set forth.

13. The combination of a hollow die, a'man- AAdrel or pressure device movable lengthwise within the die,a support or abutment for the rear end of the billet, adapted to sustain the billet rigidly against the pressure of the mandrel when said pressure is relieved by 'the exudatiou of the metal between the die and mandrel and to give way or become loosened by the direct pressure of the mandrel, and

means for introducing a uid under press-- ure, such as water, intothe rear end of the die to eject the mandrel, the formed tube, and the loosened support from the die, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciieation, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 23d day o February, A. D. 1892,

' JAMES ROBERTSON.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR T. HALL, ARTHUR H. POPE.

9 lllount Street, Manchester. 

